Data Assimilation Training in collaboration with the ECMWF

Intensive course on advanced data-assimilation methods, University of Reading, 7-10th March 2018

This 4-day intensive course on advanced data-assimilation methods will be given by members of the Data Assimilation Research Centre and the National Centre for Earth Observation. The course will provide an introduction to all data-assimilation methods used in numerical weather prediction, including the latest developments. All methods will be derived from a common framework to provide an overview of the assumptions and hence applicability of the different methods. The course also provides hands-on computer practicals to see the methods in action and gain a better understanding of their working. For those unfamiliar with data assimilation, or those who are keen to develop a deeper understanding of data assimilation methods, this course is a solid preparation for the main Data Assimilation ECMWF course held on 12-16 March 2018.

An overview of the subjects covered is given below, including some supplementary material covering the basic mathematics. A map of Reading, Whiteknights campus can be found here.

  • Introduction to Data Assimilation
  • Coavariances
  • Computer practical covariances
  • Variational Methods: Theory and practical issues
  • Computer practicals Variational methods
  • Ensemble Kalman Filter Methods: Theory and practical issues
  • Computer practicals Ensemble Kalman filters
  • Nonlinear data assimilation and Particle Filters: Theory and practical issues
  • Computyer practicals Particle filters
  • Hybrid Methods: Theory and practical issues
  • Computer practicals Hybrid methods
  • When to use which method

Supplementary Material

Timetable (pdf)
Maths primer (pdf)
Useful linear algebra (pdf)
Notation (docx)
List of suggested references (pdf)

Timetable of lectures and computer pracicals

Click on the links to download material. Notes:
  • Some material may be amended up to the time of the lectures.
  • Handouts will be provided by the lecturers.

Wednesday 7th March

Morning (Palmer 108, building 26 (grid C4) on campus map)

09:00 - 09:30 Registration with coffee/tea
09:30 - 10:30 Introduction to data assimilation (latest pdf, code ) Javier Amezcua
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee/tea

Morning\continued (Palmer G06, building 26 (grid C4) on campus map)

11:00 - 12:30 Variational data assimilation methods (latest pdf) Ross Bannister
12:30 - 13:00 Lunch

Afternoon (Palmer G05B-PC, building 26 (grid C4) on campus map)

13:00 - 14:00 Variational data assimilation - practical issues (part 1, latest pdf; part 2, latest pdf) Ross Bannister
14:00 - 14:30 Coffee/tea
14:30 - 17:00 Variational data assimilation - practicals (pdf, code) Ross Bannister et al.
17:00 Drinks and canapes

Thursday 8th March

Morning (Agriculture GL22, building 59 (grid D6) on campus map)

09:00 - 10:00 Ensemble Kalman Filter theory (pdf) Sanita Vetra-Carvalho
10:00 - 10:30 Coffee/tea
10:30 - 12:00 Ensemble Kalman Filter - practical issues (pdf) Sanita Vetra-Carvalho
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch

Afternoon (Palmer G05B-PC, building 26 (grid C4) on campus map)

13:00 - 13:30 EMPIRE/DAF system Gernot Geppert
13:30 - 15:00 Ensemble Kalman Filter practicals Sanita Vetra-Carvalho, Gernot Geppert, et al.
15:00 - 15:30 Coffee/tea
15:30 - 17:00 Ensemble Kalman Filter practicals (continued) (extra exercises in Python) Gernot Geppert et al.

Friday 9th March

Morning (Miller 19, building 49 (grid C3) on campus map)

09:00 - 10:00 Hybrid methods - theory (pdf)(pdf) Javier Amezcua
10:00 - 10:30 Coffee/tea
10:30 - 11:30 Hybrid methods - practical issues Javier Amezcua
11:30 - 12:00 When to use what (pdf) Peter Jan van Leeuwen
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch

Afternoon (Palmer G05B-PC, building 26 (grid C3) on campus map)

13:00 - 15:00 Hybrid practicals (code) Javier Amezcua et al.
15:00 - 15:30 Coffee/tea
15:30 - 17:00 Hybrid practicals (continued) Javier Amezcua et al.

Saturday 10th March

Morning (Meteorology GU01, building 58 (grid D5) on campus map)

09:00 - 10:00 Particle Filter theory (pdf) Peter Jan van Leeuwen
10:00 - 10:30 Coffee/tea
10:30 - 12:00 Particle Filter - practical issues Peter Jan van Leeuwen
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch

Afternoon (Meteorology GL68PC, building 58 (grid D5) on campus map - access at REAR of Meteorology builing)

13:00 - 14:30 Particle filter practicals Gernot Geppert, Peter Jan van Leeuwen, et al.
14:30 - 15:00 Coffee/tea
15:00 - 16:30 Particle Filter practicals (continued) Gernot Geppert, Peter Jan van Leeuwen, et al.
16:30 - 17:00 Certificates
Return to main page

Information

Course leader

Page maintained by

Background error covariance matrix for a tropospheric temperature profile


Please note


This is an obsolete web site, which is kept for reference purposes only. The new DARC web site is here

research.reading.ac.uk/met-darc

Please update your bookmarks.